Last Saturday’s Elliot Lake Arts on the Trail saw the number of people attending go up by 11.5 percent over last year, said city Coordinator of Arts & Culture Kate Matuszewski. The event attracted almost 1,000 visitors and was described as the “the best yet” by those who attended.
The one-day event, sponsored by ElliotLakeToday.com, saw 28 artists showing and selling their wares at the Collins Hall, Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre and Camp Thompson off South Bay Road on Dunlop Lake.
The event featured artists from a wide range of media, local musicians who played at the different venues and locally-made food.
“It also creates an opportunity to gather a diverse group of artists together in a high-quality arts festival and showcases the flora, fauna and majestic beauty of the area,” states the Arts on the Trail website.
It also showed the vibrant fall colours for those who took in the exhibits. Arts on the Trail is run by the city and is designed to, “promote the growth of artists, foster partnerships, contribute to the local economy and build community spirit,” Matuszewski said of the event which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. “It was a resounding success with very positive feedback from the public and the artists.”
Artists Lillian Asquith, potter Monique Watford of 2artists.ca, and native painter Conrad Bobiwash reported good sales when contacted by Elliot Lake Today at the Collins Hall and civic centre.
It was a similar response volunteers working at the various venues also received.
“Sales were very good,” Matuszewski said. “The musicians were also very popular, adding atmosphere to the event entertaining the artists and the public.”
Arts on the Trail originated as a two-day event but was pulled back to one day.
“The one-day event is still preferred by our artists and the gap between the lowest attendance numbers of our former two-day event versus the highest number for the one day is quickly closing,” Matuszewski said. “This means that a one-day event can accommodate the same numbers as a two-day event quite successfully and yield great sales without added costs for the artists.”
Local student artists from several schools also displayed some of their work during the event.
The event also had a positive spin off for local businesses.
“Local businesses and restaurants were quite busy and other events also benefitted from the traffic flow emanating from Arts on the Trail,” Matuszewski said.
Those taking in the event were also asked to vote on People’s Choice Awards for best artist, best musician best youth artist. Jim and Joanie Lindamood and their painted bird carvings won the best artist category, while Debbie French was chosen best musician and Elliot Lake Secondary School student Sadie Cregan took the best young artist win. All winners received a special etched glass award.
The winner of the draw for a $25 gift certificate from the Gallery at the Centre was Casey Boisvert from Little Current.
Matuszewski said feedback organizers have received have characterized this year’s event as the “best yet.”
“The work of the artists was both inspiring and breathtaking, and we feel fortunate to be able to showcase such a prolific body of work,” she said.